Courses within this minor focus on the sociological analysis of issues in contemporary society concerned with the making, breaking and enforcement of laws, as well as those social behaviours considered deviant, even when these are not illegal. Particular attention is paid to those processes that lead to individuals and groups being labelled as deviant and subjected to increased rates of surveillance, policing and/or incarceration. Drawing on relevant theoretical perspectives from sociology and criminology, courses will explore the relationships between power, representations of crime and deviance, inequality, and exposure to criminal justice interventions.

Learning Outcomes

Successful completion of this minor enables students to:

understand
the social construction of deviance and crime

acquire
and interpret data on crime and deviance

think
critically about theories and explanations of crime causation and deviance

understand
the impacts of the criminal justice system across different community
groups